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Who is in the NBA logo? Find out who the NBA logo is modelled after
Steve Njuguna
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:24 PM
The NBA logo has over the years become a symbol of basketball brilliance as the league continues to grow in popularity globally. The image depicted is that of a left-handed player dribbling the ball. Today, we discuss this iconic logo and the basketballer who inspired it.
Source: Getty Images
The logo is usually printed on every NBA arena and all player and referee clothing. It has also been copyrighted by the National Basketball Association and cannot be utilized for commercial purposes by anyone else.
When was the NBA logo created?
The current version of the logo was developed in 1969. It is the third logo since the beginning of the organization. In 2017 there were some minor changes to the font in its text.
Who designed the NBA logo?
Alan Siegel, a brand consultant for the National Basketball Association was the mastermind. He intended to create something that represented the fluid nature of basketball. He also applied the colours white, blue and red to represent the fact that the league was an American league.
Who is the basketball player on the NBA logo?
Legendary basketball player and coach Jerry West is the man in the logo. Designer Siegel confirmed that he took a photo of the then-LA Lakers star and silhouetted it to make the design. West has been in basketball circles since 1960 in various capacities including as a player, coach and executive.
Jerry West played for 14 years and won the championship with the LA Lakers in 1974. As an executive, he won multiple titles with the LA Lakers and Golden State Warriors. The latest NBA franchise to benefit from his services is the LA Clippers.
West later admitted that he does not like the publicity he got from being in the image. He disliked the nickname he was given by his fellow players, 'The Logo'. The NBA has never officially acknowledged West as the player the symbol is based on.
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Source: Getty Images
Name | Jerome Alan West |
Date of birth | May 28, 1938 |
Age | 84 (2023) |
Place of birth | Chelyan, West Virginia |
Height in feet | 6 ft 3 |
Height in centimetres | 193 cm |
Ethnicity | White |
Hair colour | White |
High school | East Bank high school |
College | University of West Virginia |
NBA draft year | 1960 |
Playing career period | 1960-1974 |
Teams he played for | Minneapolis Lakers, LA Lakers |
Playing position | Point guard |
Coaching career period | 1976-1979 |
NBA executive career | 1979-ongoing |
Teams he has been an executive in | LA Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies LA Clippers |
The year he was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame | 1980 |
Nickname | Mr Clutch, The Logo |
Number of Championships won as a player, manager and executive | 8 |
How much is the NBA logo worth to the organization?
Experts from the international consulting firm Siegel Gale estimate that the league makes $2 billion annually from licensing deals regarding the logo. Certified branded NBA merchandise is also sold all over the world.
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Source: Getty Images
The NBA emblem is a unifying symbol for all the 30 teams in the league and the fans. Future logo changes will have to be epic to supersede the popularity of this one. Jerry West's legacy will forever include being the man who the NBA logo is modelled after.
Sports Brief recently did a breakdown of how much overseas basketball players make. The modern NBA has increased the number of overseas players gradually. Some elite players in the league are from overseas like two-time MVP award winners Giannis Antetekoumpo from Greece and Nikola Jokic from Serbia. How much do these stars earn? Click on the link above to find out!
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